Molten Lava brings Pompeii to the Prairies.

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Chron Goblin with Molten Lava, Black Mastiff & On Lock
Palomino
Friday, February 25 - Friday, February 25

More in: Rock / Pop

Forged in the heat of Hades, progressive psych-rock phenomenon Molten Lava is an elemental power duo that derives its raw energy from some surprisingly ethereal sources. Consisting of bandmates Liam Bryant and Tristan Helgason, the Saskatchewan-based two-piece originally made contact in B.C., when Helgason’s band, Ghosts of Modern Man, crossed paths with Bryant’s benevolent atmospheric rock troupe Mothra.

Departing the über-competitive wet coast scene, Mothra made the move from Molly’s Reach, landlocking its ambient turbulence to the centre of the Prairies — only to dissolve a short time later. But the common threads remained, and soon, percussionist-vocalist Helgason and bassist-vocalist Bryant found themselves twisting wires and words together in Rad-gina.

“We relocated together as a band, because we had friends in Regina and because it’s more central,” explains Bryant of the migration. “Out here, you actually have a shot at opening for good bands, rather than having to fight 1,500 groups who sound just like you for that privilege. Unfortunately, Mothra finished up, dissolving on amicable terms, shortly after we arrived in 2007.”

That’s when Bryant decided to kick out the jams in earnest, pairing his early hardcore influences with those of Helgason, a fellow punk rock pundit. Working in cahoots under its own indie-centric guidance, the raw ’n’ ready duo spent eight weekends hammering out its defining anthem, “Shred Life,” which became the foundation (or the shred ’n’ butter) of its pulverizing set list.

The twosome then followed an extensive breadcrumb trail of western Canadian tour dates, fomenting enough pyroclastic material to generate Molten Lava’s full-length debut CD, Sevens and Nines, on local label Young Soul and a 180-gram vinyl version on Harvest King Records.

“Molten Lava represents an artistic about-face for me. I put it down to a change in personal tastes, along with a conscious effort to get away from the atmospheric, experimental fusions that typified Mothra’s sound,” relates Bryant. “I’d say that our style is more concrete. Tristan likes to play fast, but even when Molten Lava slows down a bit, and things get longer and more drawn out. The songs have a real intensity to them.”

“I’ve been performing with two-pieces since I was 17, but Tristan is the only drummer I’ve ever met who will completely pad out songs on his own,” he continues. “We’ve really worked for continuity within ourselves, if not overall, and we’re doing more singing. Because nobody else is going to do it for us! Actually, we pulled off a vocal harmony the other day that may qualify as our most romantic moment as a band!”

Taking its cues from the likes of Hot Water Music, King Crimson, The Fucking Champs and Jimi Hendrix, to name a few, Molten Lava touts themselves as “the reason music was invented,” but one might say the band has in effect “reinvented” it. From the inside, that is.

“It’s weird to be in a position of watching your band blossoming into something respectable, but I’m definitely excited to say that we’ve got a bunch of new material that we’re hoping to release by early summer,” says an optimistic Bryant. “The nature of our no-holds-barred recording process gave us the option to make this album something hugely operatic. We tried out some new techniques, like filling out the bass and putting the drums in the middle — sending them right down the pipe, so to speak.”

“Our next album will offer much more of a listening experience to our audience, as opposed to that same old formula of a ‘Boom!’ of eight punk songs. We’re both very calm people, but at the same time, we will not be restricted! There’s no reason not to play hard and fast; Molten Lava is a positive outlet for all those pent-up frustrations! The way we see it, we’re the rhythm section when we play with our other bands. So this is our chance to wank and show-off!”